Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
A friend recently gifted me the book that made her youngest child excited to read... Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. First of all, let's just consider what an incredible gift that is... to bestow upon a book lover the book that changed the reading life of someone they love. I was very honored to have received such a gift.
The intersection of beautiful drawings and honest writing really emphasizes the two different stories and makes the convergence of those two stories the more interesting and intimate. I have been wanting to venture into the world of graphic novels recently but for some reason, I'm really intimidated. And I feel that this book gave me a good introduction to that, while still feeling like the typical novel I'm used to. Now I feel like I might be able to make another trip to my local comic store without feeling like an old, fat desk jockey that's an interloper among the kids playing Magic: The Gathering. It's a very quick read, and an immensely enjoyable one at that. I read it in a few hours and holding this beautiful book reminded me of just how pleasurable the experience of sitting on your couch with a weighty hardcover can be. In fact, I think this book alone has reminded me of the romanticism of the physical book. Aldeux might be getting a break for a little bit... but Lord knows my debit card wont! Synopsis: From Brian Selznick, the creator of the Caldecott Medal winner THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET, comes another breathtaking tour de force. Playing with the form he created in his trailblazing debut novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick once again sails into uncharted territory and takes readers on an awe-inspiring journey. Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. Set fifty years apart, these two independent stories--Ben's told in words, Rose's in pictures--weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful--with over 460 pages of original artwork--Wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.